McClain SEC Player Of Week

John Hayden, UA Media Relations

04/07/2003

Alabama All-America first baseman Jackie McClain has been named the Southeastern Conference Softball Player of the Week for the fourth time in her career after leading the 18th-ranked Crimson Tide (32-13) to sweeps of Auburn and Ole Miss last week.

McClain batted .529 (9-17) with two home runs, two doubles, a triple, eight RBI, two of which were game-winners, three runs scored and a stolen base. Her biggest game came in Game 3 against Ole Miss where she recorded five RBI which tied the school and UA Softball Complex records.

It is the second time this season McClain has won the SEC honor. It is the third time this season an Alabama player has received the honor and the 25th time a Tide player has received the award, which is the most in SEC history.

At the midway point of the conference season there are crucial match-ups in SEC play and this week's match-up between Bama and the 24th ranked Florida Gators in Gainesville might be the biggest series of the season thus far.

Alabama comes into the series, as the top team in the SEC with a 15-3 record (.833 winning percentage) while the Gators (31-11) come in with the SEC's second best record of 12-3 (.800 winning percentage) having just claimed the top spot in the SEC East Division after taking two of three games from former East Division Georgia last weekend.

McClain leads the Crimson Tide offense with a .376 average and 39 RBI. Her six home runs ties for the team lead. She is also the team leader with 13 doubles.

Freshman Stephanie VanBrakle, who is tied with McClain for the team lead in home runs, leads the Tide pitching staff with a 1.18 ERA, while junior Erin Wright is the staff leader with a 15-5 record and 127 strikeouts.

The Gators will battle Bama pitching with Mylin Prieto, the team leader with a .361 average and 28 RBI.

Alabama has won seven in a row over the Gators, and nine of the last 10, en route to a 14-4 all-time record against Florida. The last time the Crimson Tide traveled to Gainesville, Alabama came away with a sweep of the Gators.

The Tide and the Gators will get underway on Tuesday beginning with a 5 p.m. doubleheader.